Improvement in spirit-levels



UNITED STATES GEORGE A. SHELLEY, OF MADISON, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN SPIRIT-LEVELS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 120,675, dated November 7, 1871.

To all 'whom it 'may concern:

Beit known that I, GEORGE A. SnnLLnY, of Madison, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new Improvement in Spirit-Level; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing and the letters of lreference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawing constitutes part of this specification, and represents, in

Figure 1, a top view closed; and in Fig. 2, a top view opened.

This invention relates to an improvement in spirit-levels; the object being the construction of a level which may be used to define right angles, andadapted to other purposes consequent upon such construction. The invention consists in constructing the level in two parts, each part provided with its own independent bulb, the two parts hinged together so as to be folded side by side, or opened and turned the one to a right angle from the other.

A is one part, and B the other part, formed in similar manner to different levels, with this difference: that the parts at one end are beveled to an inclination of forty-five degrees; and at the two ends thus formed a hinge, a, is arranged, by which the two parts are secured together so as to close into the position seen in Fig. l or open into the position seen in Fig. 2, the angle formed by thus opening being a perfect right angle, and in this position the two parts are secured by a hook, b, or other suitable locking device.

One of the chief advantages of this construction is that by the same instrument the level may be taken in two directions, as on the angle of a building, an object frequently desirable, and which, by a single level, must be done by changing the level first from one position to the other, and in so doing a perfect right angle is not attainable. Many other advantages of this instrument will be apparent to those accustomed to the use of the common level.

I prefer to form the angle by beveling the two parts, as described; yet it may be attained by making the end square andhinging one part to the other a little back, so that, when open, the bearing will be formed between the end of one part and the side of the other. If a long level is desirable, then the two parts may be opened to bring them in line with each other, and thus have a level double the length of one of the parts.

I arrange any suitable device for locking the parts together when closed, as in Fig. 1.

I claim as my invention- A spirit-level, consisting of the two parts A B hinged together so as to fold and be set at a right angle, substantially as described.

GEORGE A. SHELLEY.

Witnesses:

WM. S. HULL, J. MYRoN HULL. (157) 

